National Basketball Association

Denver Nuggets- Where Are They Now: Anthony Carter

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:14 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mar 28, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone looks on in the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the Pepsi Center. The Mavericks defeated the Nuggets 97-88. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

When you bring up Anthony Carter’s name to long-time Nuggets fans, you often get a mixed reaction.

The ‘glass half empty’ fan will quickly point out his late game turnover versus the Lakers in game one of the 2008-09 Western Conference Finals. Denver were trailing, but had the ball down 99-101 with 30 seconds remaining. Then head coach George Karl entrusted veteran back-up point guard Anthony Carter to inbound the basketball.

With a chance to level to scores late in a crucial road playoff game, Carter threw an errant pass that was intercepted by Lakers forward Trevor Ariza. The Lakers stalled for the entirety of their allocated 24 seconds as the Nuggets tried not to foul, knowing they were down by only one possession with the chance to get the ball back.

More from Nugg Love

With 10 seconds remaining in the game, Kobe Bryant was fouled on a jumper attempt by JR Smith. In typical Bryant fashion, he calmly iced a pair of free throws to help the Lakers escape a gigantic hole by pulling out a game one victory in LA, 105-103.

The ‘glass half full’ type fan may point to another play, this one a much more positive memory.

During a mid-season game in 2007, the Nuggets found themselves down by a point to the Houston Rockets in double overtime. The game, which was being nationally televised, had four seconds remaining when Carter caught the ball at the three point line off an in-bounds pass.

He took one dribble, threw up a pump fake and stepped between two Rocket defenders. He launched a pretty floater that went through as time expired to give the Nuggets the one point victory in double overtime.

Want your voice heard? Join the Nugg Love team!

The fact of the matter is, the man affectionately known as AC provided Denver with five serviceable seasons as back up to both Allen Iverson and later, Chauncey Billups.

While Carter departed the Nuggets in 2011, and hasn’t played in the NBA since 2012, he has remained around the game.

Lets take a look at his time in Denver, as well as where he is today.

#Nuggets announce training camp roster. Veteran PG Anthony Carter, G Ben Uzoh among camp invitees. http://t.co/URaGGreo

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 1, 2012

Today

Carter went undrafted in the 1998 NBA draft and subsequently played for the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA. His one season there was enough for the Heat to sign him for the 1999-2000 NBA season. Carter spent four very solid seasons in Miami, and during his In his final year with the Heat, he averaged 41. points and 4.1 assists in 20 minutes of playing time.

nuggets

Nugg Love 2wDenver Nuggets: Will Malik Beasley Sadly Only Get Insurance Minutes?

More headlines around FanSided:

2w - Top 5 Denver Nuggets with Any Fantasy Basketball Value 4w - Denver Nuggets: There Is No Hope for DeMarcus Cousins Coming to DEN 6w - Rio Olympics: Lauvergne, France Must Dominate Against Venezuela 6w - Team USA Dominate In Their Second Olympic Game 7w - Jameer Nelson: NBPA's Teammate of the YearMore News at Nugg Love

In 2003, he went west and signed with the San Antonio Spurs. Carter appeared in just five games for the Spurs before an injury forced him to miss the rest of the year.

Upon returning to the court, AC signed with the Timberwolves on a two year deal, however he struggled to find the form he had in Miami, averaging just 2.7 points and 2.4 assists per contest his first season with the organisation in 2004.

By 2006 Carter was plying his trade with Italian club Scafati Basket, before, the Nuggets offered him an NBA life-line.

Carter first came to the Nuggets at the back end of the 2006-07 season, playing just two games.

It was the following season however, that AC cemented himself as an NBA player. He appeared in 70 games for Denver, and averaged career highs in points, assists, steals, rebounds and minutes played. His 7.8 points, 5.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals helped Denver to a 45-37 record.

Carter was a key member of the ‘Thuggets’ era in Denver that featured the likes of Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Allen Iverson and head coach George Karl.

That core group made the playoffs for ten consecutive season from 2004 through 2013, and Carter was a team member in half of those appearances. That run included the 2008/09 season when Denver made the Western Conference Finals.

Then head coach George Karl had a lot of faith in Carter, sometimes that worked in favor of Denver, other times not so much. Case in point, the buzzer beating double OT winner, and the crucial turnover late in game one of the 2009 Western Conference Finals.

Get the FanSided App

AC was a below average NBA athlete, possessed an average shot and was just okay defensively. But he remained in the good books of George Karl with his ability to run an offense and generally take care of the basketball. In a team full of emotional characters, Carter was the veteran voice who offered up a calming voice over an often chaotic team.

In 2011, Carter was involved in the Carmelo Anthony deal that sent ‘Melo to New York and ushered in a new era in Denver.

After a brief stints with New York and Toronto, Carter rejoined the Nuggets for training camp in for the 2012/13 season. He was cut before the season began, as his on-court career came to an end.

His Career Continued

Carter remained around the game of basketball post his playing career.

In 2013, after a decade away from the organisation, he rejoined the Spurs as an assistant coach of San Antonio’s D-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. He became a member of head coach Ken McDonald’s coaching staff and held the position for two seasons.

In his first season in Austin, the Spurs finished last in the Central division with an overall record of 19-31. However, they were able to turn it around the following year, finishing with a 32-18 record en route to a playoff run that saw the team eliminated in the semi final round against eventual champions, the Santa Cruz Warriors.

George Karl and Carter reunited in 2015 when, Karl offered AC a position on his coaching staff with the Sacramento Kings. It marked the first time Carter would coach at the NBA level. The position last just one season however as Karl was let go by the Kings front office after a 33-49 season.

Just this week, it was announced Carter would be joining Miami Heat’s D-League affiliate Sioux Falls Skyforce as an assistant coach for the upcoming season. AC got his first NBA opportunity with Miami over a decade ago, and once again, he finds himself back with the organisation.

Carter seems determined to forge out a successful career as a basketball coach. He continues to gain more and more experience on the sidelines within some of the most respected organisations in the league.

One day, Carter may find himself calling the inbound plays, instead of triggering them.

This article originally appeared on